Different Kits For Different Emergencies: Comparing 3 Emergency Situations And The Kits You Need To Survive Them

If you value your life or the lives of your family members, then survival kits are a great investment. Unfortunately, the tools needed for survival in one situation won’t necessarily be the same ones needed for survival in another situation. And while there are a few things that you should keep in every survival kit (protein bars, bottled water, first aid supplies), everything else is going to depend on what kind of emergency situation you’re trying to, well, survive. Here are three specific scenarios, and what kind of kits you’ll need to get through them.

1. Hurricane/Earthquake

According to the Miami Department of Fire-Rescue, there are six basic things that your hurricane emergency kit needs:

Water

Nonperishable food

First aid supplies

Clothing and bedding

Tools and emergency supplies

Special items

Elaborating on these, the food and water should be enough to last at least three days, and the food should be a kind that doesn’t need to heated to be eaten. Clothing should include rain gear, warm blankets, and changes of clothing for everyone. The tools should be of a sort that can be used in case of flooding, and electronics such as a portable radio and a flashlight should be kept in seal-able plastic bags. In fact, the entire kit should probably be securely wrapped in plastic to keep it from getting wet. Special items include medications, baby supplies, sanitation supplies, and entertainment (such as books and games). Earthquakes may cause different kinds of devastation than hurricanes, but the end result is often the same: a disruption in government services and amenities. As such, most hurricane kits can double as earthquake kits. However, where hurricanes often allow you a few hours to prepare before they make landfall, earthquakes give no such forewarning. The only way to be prepared for an earthquake is to do so in advance.

2. Road

If you find yourself in trouble while on the road, you’ll be thankful for a small survival kit that can fit into your car. In addition to the always necessary food storage, water, and first aid supplies, you’ll want it to contain car tools that can be used to help get your vehicle running again. Also make sure to pack a flashlight (with extra batteries), road flares, and a fully charged cell phone. Generally, the biggest danger of being stranded in a car comes from freezing, so try to include things that you can use to keep warm, such as blankets, waterproof matches, and chemical hand warmers.

3. Blackout

If you’re at home and you lose power, there are several special things that you’re going to need. Your biggest concerns will probably be with communication, lighting, and keeping warm. Battery powered walkie-talkies will allow you to keep in touch with your family, and a portable CB radio will allow you to contact outside services as well as keep up to speed with news updates. Lighting can be supplied by kerosene lanterns, battery powered flashlights, or even good old fashioned candles. The best warmth you can have is body heat, so include several warm blankets. If your house has a fireplace, then be sure that you have some matches and wood to burn. Honestly, one of the biggest concerns when facing a blackout has to do with entertainment. Pack a deck of cards or some board games to help you and your family pass the time until the power comes back on. Allow younger children to pick out special toys that you will keep in the survival kit, so that when the lights go out, they’ll have something new and interesting to look forward to.

As always, the best survival kit will be the one that fits your particular emergency situation. But by anticipating what kinds of disasters or situations you’re more likely to encounter, you can develop an emergency survival kit that will get you through the tough times, no matter what those times may entail.